If
you're wondering what the top things people do on their
Hawaii vacations (besides enjoy the magnificent Hawaii beaches), look no further.
Whether you're here to see an incredible Hawaii volcano
or you want to laze on a beach at a top resort in Kona,
Hawaii, knowing ahead of time what you want to do will
help you make the most of your trip to Hawaii.
Hawaii
Volcanoes
National Park
Most visitors to Hawaii want to see lava from an active
Hawaii volcano, and the big island does not disappoint
when it comes to this. Spread out over 333,000 acres,
the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park takes up a large portion on
the southern part of the Big Island. Mauna Loa, rising
at 13,677 feet, is easily the largest dormant volcano
in the world. Kilauea volcano is where you can see the
lava floes and eerie volcanic landscapes. You can spend
days hiking and camping in the Hawaii volcano park, since
over half of it is set aside as wilderness.
Kona Coast
The Kona coast, on the west side of the Big Island, is
home to the top resorts on the big islands and the popular
Kona vacation rentals. The Kona area enjoys great weather
all year round, in addition to other activities like deep-sea
fishing and snorkeling, making this a popular place for
Hawaii beaches. You can also take a tour of the coffee
farms that produce the world famous Kona coffee, which
is organic and all natural. Kona vacation rentals are
popular because many of these look out over the Pacific
Ocean, and are close to excellent beaches. Whether you
Hawaii vacation includes Hawaii beaches, staying at a
resort or booking one of the Kona vacation rentals, this
area is one of the best of all islands to stay.
Maui
Road to Hana
This is the most incredible drive of all the Hawaiian
Islands. This 52 mile Hana drive usually takes about 3
hours, and goes over 54 different bridges. The drive starts
at Kahului Airport, and the beginning of the ride takes
your through farmlands that grow Pineapple and Taro. Then
you will find yourself in a tropical rainforest, surrounded
by papaya, guava, and rainbows eucalyptus trees. Next,
you will drive by old churches in Wailua and Keanae. The
Oceanside caves and black sand beaches of Wainapanapa
State Park are some of the last natural wonders you will
find before reaching the town of Hana, where you can experience
life in a sleepy Hawaii town. Be sure to visit the Seven
Sacred Pools at Oheo Gulch in the Haleakala National Park,
and don't miss the 2 hour rainforest hike from Hana to
the impressive waterfalls.
Iao Valley
Iao Valley beauty has inspired Hawaiians to gather here
to honor the agriculture god, Lono, during an annual festival
called the Makahiki festival. For over a hundred years
visitors have been coming to the valley to enjoy the scenic
beauty of this lush valley. There are trails in the park,
so you can see the best scenery of the cloud covered valley.
These clouds have a lot to do with the shape of the valley,
since these feed the streams that carved the shape of
the Iao valley.
Oahu
Hanauma Bay
On Oahu, Hanauma Bay has a marine reef that is the top
place for snorkeling anywhere on the island. There are
more than 50 species of fish that make their home here,
and you can see them up close when you scuba dive or snorkel
at Hanauma Bay. Often, the bay is full of snorkelers,
sometimes too many for additional divers to join. Shark's
cove is a great alternative. There are underwater alcoves
in the deeper inlet to the right of the cove where more
adventurous divers can explore the natural beauty of the
reef.
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki beach is located on the southern shores of Oahu.
Since this place was frequented by the Hawaiian royalty
during the 1800's, Waikiki has been a retreat for visitors
looking for a relaxing shore. Waikiki beach is now home
to the most resort hotels on the island, and home to the
most modern luxury resorts in Hawaii as well as historic
Hawaii hotels as well.
Kauai
Na Pali Coast
The name is this spectacular place is taken from the Hawaiian
word Pali, which means cliffs.
The cliffs of the Na Pali coast are dramatic valleys
that rise hundreds of feet from the ocean floor. These
deep gorges are caused by streams and waterfalls which
continue to create crevasses into the ancient stone, which
are further eroded by the waves of the sea .There are
still remnants of terraces near the valley floor where
Hawaiians used to cultivate the taro root.
There is a challenging 11-mile hike on the Kalalau trail,
which traverses 5 valleys before it ends at Kalalau beach.
This hike can take a full day but will reward you with
treks through verdant meadows and ocean side beaches.
Waimea
Canyon
The Waimean Canyon is an incredible feast for the eyes.
Situated on the west coast of Hawaii, the canyon is more
than 3,500 feet deep, and more than 10 miles long. This
canyon was created by the flooding from the rivers that
flowed out of the Hawaii volcano Mount Waialeale. If you
look at the canyon walls, you will see the lines that
show traces of the geological activity that has taken
place over the past thousands of years. There is lots
of great hiking, with many different lookouts and vista
points to take in the stunning beauty of this Canyon.
If you're driving out here, make sure you have plenty
of gas in your tank, as there are is not a single gas
station on the 40 mile road.
Lanai
Lanai City
Lanai is the smallest island of all the islands of Hawaii,
and is known as the Pineapple Isle because over 90% of
the island was used to cultivate pineapples. This is a
great place to get away from it all, since there are only
two major resorts on this island. You can get here easily
from Maui on the Expeditions Lanai ferry.
Monro Trail and the Luahiwa Petroglyphs
Lanai is worth a visit while you're in the Hawaiian Islands.
It has a lot of interesting features, like Koele, which
is home to a lodge that is in such a lovely setting that
it pulls that the heartstrings of the most hardened Hawaiian.
There is a four-wheel path and hiking trail that is popular
for being a strenuous trek. Using the Munro Trail, you
can access the Luahiwa Petroglyphs, which are about three
miles from Koele, and which are accessible by an ATV.
